DPR, DPD power imbalances may provoke separatism<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A disparity in the power wielded by the House of Representatives
\n(DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) could fuel
\nseparatism in the regions, analysts have said.<\/p>\n
Denny Indrayana of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and
\nArbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia also said on Thursday
\nthe bicameral parliamentary system the country just adopted was
\nonly symbolic.<\/p>\n
"In the future, people in the regions will conclude that the
\nDPD does not represent them. This will provoke resistance in the
\nregions and could affect the country's unity," Denny told The
\nJakarta Post here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Denny and Arbi were commenting on the newly passed bill on the
\ncomposition of legislative bodies, which gives the House more
\npower than the DPD, a newly formed legislative institution.<\/p>\n
According to the new bill, the country's highest legislative
\nbody, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), will be made up
\nof the House and the representatives council, whose members will
\nbe elected directly.<\/p>\n
The bill, which the House endorsed on Wednesday, limits the
\nrole of the DPD to providing input on bills related to regional
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
The newly endorsed bill, which will automatically become law
\n30 days after approval by the House, also stipulates that under
\nthe bicameral system, the House will have 550 members, while the
\nnumber of DPD members will not exceed one-third the number of
\nHouse members. It is expected that there will be four DPD members
\nfrom each province.<\/p>\n
The bicameral system was introduced to appease regions
\ndisappointed with the central government and to neutralize
\nsecessionist movements.<\/p>\n
Denny expressed fear people in the regions would express their
\ndissatisfaction with the system by clamoring for independence
\nshould the House ignores the aspirations of the people.<\/p>\n
He said the establishment of the DPD was designed to
\naccommodate the aspirations of the regions.<\/p>\n
However, the DPD will be unable to do this because of its
\nlimited powers, he said.<\/p>\n
"People will be more disappointed because the implementation
\nof regional autonomy has not been effective," he said.<\/p>\n
The government introduced regional autonomy on Jan. 1, 2001,
\ngiving more authority to regional administrations to develop and
\nregulate their own affairs.<\/p>\n
Denny said the implementation of regional autonomy had not led
\nto the regions getting a fair share of the revenue from the
\nexploitation of their natural resources.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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